Cross-training in the workplace means gaining knowledge and skills related to activities outside your primary responsibilities. In the hospitality industry, for example, a bartender might be cross trained to wait tables or make coffee. There are many benefits of cross-training in the hospitality industry because it is so diverse, and it takes a variety of skills just to perform one job effectively. In a restaurant alone, a wide range of employees with various skills are necessary to keep it running efficiently and customers happy, and the more skills you have, the better. Let’s discuss the benefits of cross-training in the hospitality industry.
What is Cross-Training?
Cross-training means learning skills that you may not use daily. These skills can be useful to support a different department or assist a colleague or manager. As you grow in your hospitality career, you will naturally pick up skills from various other roles. However, having these additional skills early in your career can only benefit you and your employer.
Why Cross-Train in the Hospitality Industry?
The more professionally well-rounded you are, the better. At first, it may seem unnecessary to upskill in something which isn’t directly related to your role, but soon enough, you’ll see the benefits.
Grow Your Career
As with any job, it takes time to work your way up, but that’s because there’s a lot to learn. The more skills you accumulate, the more responsibility you can take on. As a result, you can climb the career ladder and take on more challenging roles.
Increase Your Earning Potential
The more skills you learn and responsibility you take on, the stronger your position becomes to negotiate your wages or salary, due to your increased value as an employee. So, as you learn new skills, you can try to negotiate an increase and add these skills to your resume.
Career Flexibility
The more skills you have, the easier it is to explore other jobs within the hospitality industry. This flexibility contributes to career longevity, as it allows you to switch to similar or adjacent roles for new challenges.
Job Security
Nothing is more certain than change. While businesses may downsize or close for various reasons, more valuable employees are often retained. Alternatively, they’re more likely to find employment elsewhere. More skills will always give you an edge over your peers.
Customer Satisfaction
Customer satisfaction in the hospitality industry is complex. While many hospitality courses teach customer service skills, you can also learn tips and tricks from your colleagues and employers. You can also satisfy your customer’s needs more efficiently if you don’t have to ask a colleague for help completing tasks outside your typical responsibilities.
If you want to learn skills which are more specific to your current place of work, you’ll need to be proactive. You can ask colleagues and managers to explain certain procedures to you, and you can watch them perform their duties. If it’s too busy for additional training during regular hours, consider staying late or arriving early to gain more knowledge and skills. Alternatively, you can take a hospitality course. Whether you opt for shorter, more specific courses or longer, more general ones, each has its unique benefits.
